Glenville, W. Va. – After waiting a few days, the Wheeling University Softball team (6-32, 3-11) finally made their trip to Glenville, West Virginia on Tuesday afternoon. The Cardinals battled the Pioneers in a pair of one-run games, but ended up on the wrong side of both matchups after being swept. They dropped a pitcher's duel in game one, falling 1-0 before dropping a back and forth battle in game two 5-4 to round out the day.
Game One: Glenville State 1, Wheeling 0
It was a battle between two of the Mountain East Conference's (MEC) most dominant pitchers in game one as Kaylin Shields battled Glenville State's Kylie Burdick. Both pitchers would throw 1-2-3 innings on the first, before the Cardinal broke into the hit column in the top of the second. It would be Shields that got that first hit of the game with a single to lead off the second before she was replaced by Maria Clark on a Fielder's Choice. The Cardinals would get a runner to scoring position on a single by Keke Warrix, but the Cardinals would be held off the scoreboard. Glenville State would break into the hit column in the bottom of that second inning, but both pitchers were able to keep zeros on the board. The score remained 0-0 after four innings before the first run was tallied in the bottom of the fifth.
The run would come with one out in the bottom of the fifth as Glenville State's Emma McLean sent a home run over the left field wall. It gave the Pioneers a 1-9 lead, but the Cardinals still had two more chances to get back on the board. Things looked good in the top of the sixth when Mummery picked up a leadoff single, followed by a two out single by Ava Kresak that put a runner in scoring position. However, the zero remained and Shields would finish a strong night in the bottom of the sixth. She finished the game throwing 6.0 innings of work allowing just one run on two hits while walking one and striking out five. In the top of the seventh, the Cardinals would get the bat on the ball for two of the three batters but they weren't able to push across a run as they fell 1-0.
Six different Cardinals would compile the six different hits on the night, with all six of those hits being singles. Amber Morgan and Grace Mummery would each go 1-3 at the top of the lineup, with Morgan extending her hitting streak to six games. Kaylin Shields, Ava Kresak, Keke Warrix, and Chyla Miller would each add hits of their own, with each going 1-3 to round out the offense. The Cardinals would look to generate more offense as they head into game two of the doubleheader.
Game Two: Glenville State 5, Wheeling 4
After being held off the board in game one, the Cardinals would be the aggressors in game two with Amber Morgan starting things with a leadoff single. Grace Mummery would sacrifice the runner over the second and Brooklyn Shields would step in with a runner in scoring position and one out. Shields would send a line drive single to left field that scored Morgan and gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Wheeling would get another runner to scoring position as Ava Kresak singled to move runners to first and second with two outs, but the score would remain 1-0. Maria Clark would take the circle for game two and kept Glenville State off the scoreboard over the first two innings of play. Wheeling was held off the board in the top of the second but added to their lead in the third.
It would be Morgan that got things started with a double and she would steal second during the next at-bat. After a pop-out, Sanders would step in with another chance to do damage and came through lifting a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Morgan and make it a 2-0 Cardinal lead. However, the Pioneers would strike for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning and the score would sit tied at 2-2 after three innings of play. Both pitchers would settle in for a scoreless fourth inning, before the Cardinal offense once again got things going in the top of the fifth. Denise Carrillo would get things started with a double and a sacrifice bunt by Chyla Miller moved her to third. After an Amber Morgan walk moved runners to the corners with one out, Mummery would single to center to bring home Carrillo and make it a 3-2 Cardinal lead.
Sanders stepped up next and continued her big day at the plate with an RBI single to bring home Morgan. It was her third RBI of the day and the Cardinals were back out in front with a 4-2 advantage. Glenville State for their own offense going in the bottom half of the inning, and answered with three runs of their own, taking a 5-4 lead. It would signal the end of the day for Clark, who finished throwing 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits while walking two and striking out six. Taufahema would come in to throw the final 1.1 scoreless frames while allowing three hits on the day. The score remained 5-4 heading into the top of the seventh as the Cardinals looked to continue their push for the lead. Miller would start the inning with a single, but that was the only base runner for the Cardinals as they fell 5-4.
It was a big day for Brooklyn Sanders, who led the Cardinals going 2-3 with three RBI on the day. Sanders has driven in multiple runs in two of her last three games. Grace Mummery would drive in the other run for the Cardinals, finishing 1-3 in the effort with an RBI. Amber Morgan had the other multi hit game for the Cardinals at the top of the lineup, going 2-3 with three runs scored, while Denise Carrillo added a 1-3 effort with a run scored of her own to round out the game.
The Wheeling University Softball team is back in action on Wednesday, April 9th, when they travel to West Liberty with first pitch at 3 PM.
